The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-06-06
WITH HIS MIND PULL OF
THOUGHTS OF MURDER,
He Sallles Forth With His Trusty
Pistol, Finds q Suspicious
Couple, and
BLAZEs AWAY, BRINGING DEATH
TO THE WRONG PARTIES.
Captured on Beard the Arkansas
City and Brought to
Memphis.

but the circumstances are the most
novel yet brought to light In the an
nails OF crime. He was questioned by
Chief Davis and at FIRST played the in
nocent racket rather siubbornly. The
weight Of his crime proved too much,
and within O short time he fully con-
I, seed, even expressing desire TO see
the "Mr. Editor" TO whom the full
particulars would be given.
An APPEAL man came In opportune-
ly and noticed a pleased expression
on Hays's face over the visit. The
only condition enjoined was that Of
a ."square ldesl," and this promised,
he related the story as follows:
THE CRIME IN DETAIL.
Shortly after IL o'clock Saturday af-
ternoos he went ACROSS the river from
Msj. Falls place, Just across the river,
to Fulton, in company with Emma
Terry, q woman with whom he was
living. There they met buck negro
named Charles Wilson, whom both
knew, and who was on intimate terms
with the woman. In the course Of
friendly conversation Wilson bluntly
asked Hays II he and Emma had dis
solved partnership. stating as q reason
that he was under an engagement
with her. Hays replied that he had
mammoth supply Of presumption, and
that II all reference to the subject was
not discontinued at once somebody
would get hurt. With that he left the
place--a store kept by Mr.. Butler
and went to the elevator, where he
and another negro shot craps for an
hour or two. Returning to the store,
he discovered Wilson and the woman
oARKssINo EACH OTHER,
and apparently unmindiul of his ap-
proach. He interposed q wordy OBJ
lection, when man and woman united
in clamor for his death. The latter
landed her lover q club, and with
this weapon, backed by an ugly
looking knife, hostilities began.
Hays, with . bottle Of gin, bluffed
his adverssries away, but the mar
shAl, Mr.. Butler, took charge Of
the combatants in. the interest Of
peace. After q brief captivity they
we're released, and Hays left, recross-
ing the river in company with a man
named George Moss. He had barely
landed ON the opposite shore when he
was informed by the regular skifiman,
Howard Robertson, that Wilson aud
Emma had crossed with him. Re.
Numbering the threat OF Wilson to
take charge Of the disreputable female,
his
BLOOD BEGAN 40 BOIL,
and he went at once to his home and
armed himself with q pistol. He
learned from the ekiffman where the
couple could be found, and hsttened
to the place. Passing along lonely
spot, he noticed man and woman In
a clump OF bushes, but paid little at.
tention to then Search for the OBJ
jects OF bis wrath proved unavsiing
at the placs designa ed, and he re-
turned to where the couple had bsen
seen few minutes previously. They
were still there, In questionable cir
cumstances, and the jealous and infu-
rated negro, with the momentary
warning,
ION, I'VE GOT YOU NOW"
loveled his pistol and fred three times,
killing them both. Hastily changing
his clothes and leaving the bodies un-
disturbed, he started ! ra negro ball
on the Lanier farm, where he arrived
Just after dark. He had been there
about an hour when tie officers,
armed with shoigunB, rode up and dc
manded his surrender. Slipping
through the back door he was about
TO make his escape, when they com
msnded him to halt. Refusing, he
was fred upon, but as the charges
were only bird shot, little damage was
done. He returned the compliment,
emptyipg three chambers Cf his re-
volver, and fed in the darkness, leav-
ing bis coat ard vest tied up in led
bandaua. Half drunk and weary and
surrounded by water, he fell prone
upon log in the middle OF a s.ough,
coon fashion, and went 10 sleep. Near
daylight he awoke with a etsrt and
began TO consider the propriety of re.
turning for his bundle Of clothes, in
the pockets Of which all Of his money
was deposited.
"THKY ARR WATCHING nor Mr."
be unused, "and think when / return
they will easily capture me. But I'll
make the effort, and II successful will
go to Memphis and get on a big spree
before my sufferings commence" The
gray dawn OF day was Just breaking
when be reached the place, and every
one bad either departed Or was asleep.
Securing the bundle he continued his
wandeiings until he reached Nodena
farm, on the Mississippi river, and
just in time to hail the steamer Arkan-
eas City. He got aboard, paid his 81
for deck passage, and was enjoying
pace Of mind when the second clerk
OF the boat Informed him he was
wanted up stairs. He complied with
misgivings, and Just as he opened the
cabin door, Mr.. w. H. Pritchett, the
second clerk, confronted him with a
pistol. Marshal Batter appeared, and
the negro was
AGAIN A CAPNvR.
The prisoner was securely bound
with cord, slowed away and convey
ed to this city, where he was locked
mp to await the arrival Of officers
from Mississippi county, Ark, where
the shooting occurred.
Hays is a large, we'll formed and
dangerous looking negro, but 30 far as
known has never been mixed up in
serious trouble before. He Is we'll
known to the police in Memphis, and
seems TO know them all, recognising
Chief Davis and Officer Randolph i'm
stantly. The woman, Terry, about
whom the trouble occurred, is also q
familiar figure in the city, having fire.
quently been In the station house and
jail. In relating his version of the
affair, Hays said the parties killed
were not Wihon and Emma Terry, or
at least reports to that effect had
reached him. After frirg the fatal
shots he had fed before examining
the bodies, but believed he had made
a mistake.